Warmaisa

Worms (in Hebrew
“Warmaisa”) as a centre of Jewish learning and culture

The society with the
same name – Warmaisa –
contributes to the promotion and preservation of Jewish culture in Worms.

Jewish cemetery "Holy Sands" (picture: R. Uhrig)

An important Jewish community

Between the turn of
the millenium and the time of National Socialism there was an unbroken period
with an important Jewish community in Worms, whose members were closely involved
in the history of the city.

The
Holy Sands cemetery in Worms is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe. It was in use from 1076/77 up to the early 20 th
century and has survived without suffering significant damage. This cemetery
near the former city wall has many thousands of visitors every year from all
over the world.

ritual bath, Mikvah (picture: R. Uhrig)

A centre of flourishing Jewish life

In the
northern part of the old city, nestling close to where the city wall once
stood, is the former Jewish quarter, and many of the old buildings have at
least partly been preserved. The synagogue (with one building for men and one
for women) and the ritual bath (mikvah)
formed the centre of flourishing Jewish life for many centuries.

There
was a first synagogue here as long ago as 1034, and this is recorded on an
inscription that has been preserved. A new place of worship was built in
1174/75, at the same time as the cathedral, and a women’s building was added at
the beginning of the 13 th century. The synagogue was destroyed in
the period of Nazi rule, rebuilt in 1961 and now serves its proper function
again, although no new Jewish community has been formed since the war. The
women’s bath (mikvah) dating from
1185/86 has survived undamaged.

Jewish Museum in the Rashi House (picture: R. Uhrig)

The Jewish museum in the Rashi House

Immediately
next door to the synagogue and in the Rashi House is the Jewish Museum, which was established in 1982. In
its historic building it contains documents on Jewish history and exhibits that
illustrate the religious life of Jews in Worms. The building is named after
Rabbi Salomon ben Isaak, who is known as Rashi.

In
close association with the neighbouring communities in Speyer und Mainz and
because of its numerous highly regarded rabbis, the Jewish community in Worms
had a significant influence and a high reputation, which contributed to its
honorary title “Little Jerusalem”.